Movie Information
Overall Rank: 3833
Average Rating: 2.7/4
# of Ratings: 96
Theatrical Release Date: 06/01/1979
Language: English
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Don Coscarelli
Actors: Michael Baldwin, Lynn Eastman, Reggie Bannister, David Arntzen, Angus Scrimm, Bill Cone
Plot: Mike looks up to his older brother who seems to have it all - the looks, the car and the girls. However, the two are thrown into a different world after a funeral when the mortician, The Tall Man, is seen lifting a coffin with ease and taking it with him. Thus begins their quest to bring down The Tall Man.
Quick Movie Reviews
Rating of
1/4
Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 09/18/2021
The plot just gets stupider and stupider, and the acting is bad even for low-budget schlock. An unironic cult favorite for some, "Phantasm" is like the kind of stuff you see mocked on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Rating of
3.5/4
Unknown - wrote on 01/26/2011
Creepy and inspired. Watching this film feels like waking up from a big, crazy nightmare.
Rating of
3.5/4
Andrew_Tom - wrote on 10/25/2007
There really isn't another movie like this. Very surreal, dreamlike story which will leave you scratching your head afterwards. Angus Scrimm's Tall Man became a movie legend for a reason. You do not want to cross this man. The movie spawned three sequels so far, with rumors of a fourth one coming soon. All of the sequels are very watchable, but are nothing compared to the original. You will not regret it!
Related Movie Lists
Recent Movie Talk Posts
Unknown - wrote on 2012-09-01 00:20
That was a great stinger of an ending.  Classic horror finale.
Kyle(The Rebel) - wrote on 2012-08-31 09:48
The final scene in Phantasm, where the dwarf creatures pull the boy into the mirror, scared the heck out of me.
Unknown - wrote on 2012-08-30 17:38
Agreed.  Scrimm makes the character so damn memorable and creepy.  He's a towering force.  "Boy!"
Chris Kavan - wrote on 2012-08-30 14:28
I would put The Tall Man right up there with the other classic horror icons: Jason, Freddy, Meyers, Pinhead - Angus Scrimm didn't have to say anything, just his presence was enough to give you the shivers (and those spheres he had were pretty slick as well).
Kyle(The Rebel) - wrote on 2012-08-30 13:24
I agree with you! I didn't know Coscarelli based most of the film on his own nightmares. Very interesting indeed. The Tall Man and those flying spheres...so classic!